Labor Day Photo-op

Rainbow trout caught in Lynn Camp Creek on Labor Day 2011

I had been looking forward to doing some bass fishing over the three-day break, but when the Labor Day weekend arrived it had 100-degree heat and 100% humidity rolling in with it. That just about ensured that we would be heading to a stream. While the fishing wouldn't be very good, even though the choice was convenient; the Chief had asked a friend to take some photos of he, D, and I fishing, and her husband was ready to learn.

REVIEW: Hobbs Creek Fly Reel, Fully Loaded HC2R-L6

The Chief's HC2R-L5 slightly used.

When the Chief and I started "upgrading" our equipment, we were going to purchase the under $20 Bass Pro Shops Power Plus Graphite Fly Rods - Model PPG8056-2 and just mount our cheap Martin reels on them. Somewhere along the way, one of the salesmen mentioned to Dad a deal being offered that included a Hobbs Creek fly reel loaded with backing, line and leader. You would actually save about $5 purchasing everything together and loaded instead of purchasing each separate and doing it yourself. Saved-labor and $5 off to boot meant this was a pretty fair deal as far as we were concerned, so we each bought one for $59.99, Dad a 5-wt. and me a 6-wt. (I'm still thinking bass).

The actual item we purchased was the HC2R-L6, but I have been unable to locate it on the Bass Pro Shops Site. As far as I can tell—I won't swear to it—the package includes an HC2R Hobbs Creek™ Large Arbor Fly Reel, 100 yards of 20 lb. White River Fly Shop® MAGIBRAID™ Flyline Backing (38-425-059-00), an 82-ft weight forward Hobbs Creek™ Fly Line (38-431-182-06), and I suspect a 5x 9-foot White River Tapered Leader (I didn't pay much attention, and through the use of multiple sections of tippet and a few snags, mine is now more of a knotted leader while Dad replaced his).

REVIEW: BPS Power Plus Graphite Fly Rod - Model PPG8056-2

As previously mentioned, the old man and I decided to start learning with some cheap--I mean really cheap--fly rod kits. Once we had the basics down, it wasn't long before we were looking to make some inexpensive upgrades. On a visit to the White River Fly Shop, we noticed some rods for less than $20 that had a bit more action than than the cheap Martin's we had purchased. We figured at the price, it was worth taking a risk, and so we came home with two 8-foot, 5/6-weight Bass Pro Shops Power Plus Graphite Fly Rods - Model PPG8056-2.